A list of complications can result from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, exacerbation. Exacerbation is to make an already bad situation worse, such as the symptoms already associated with COPD, which often affect the entire body, not just the lungs or breathing. Individuals with COPD are at a greater risk for respiratory infections because diseased lungs are more susceptible to opportunistic microorganisms. Cardiac complications are also more common as the respiratory system becomes more compromised. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, "greater emphasis is needed on the prevention of exacerbations, because this approach may do much to extend life and reduce the costs of care for patients with COPD."
Right Heart Failure
According to the Cleveland Clinic, COPD patients may develop an enlarged heart, called cor pulmonale, due to their low oxygen levels. When this condition develops, the chambers on the right side of the heart cannot pump enough blood to the lungs, causing blood to accumulate, causing pressure in the veins to rise. The onset of cor pulmonale can be a complication of COPD exacerbation with a rapid onset caused by a pulmonary embolus, respiratory failure or asthma. In individuals with chronic pulmonary disease, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and lung fibrosis or scarring of the lung tissue, cor pulmonale develops gradually. When other symptoms of COPD worsen, cor pulmonale can develop rapidly.
Lung Collapse
A complication of COPD exacerbation is a spontaneous pneumothorax or lung collapse indicated by air leaking out of the lung into the pleural space, the area between the lung and chest wall. As the diseased lung tissue becomes weak, it can rupture, causing the lung to collapse with an increased shortness of breath that comes on suddenly. A spontaneous pneumothorax requires immediate medical attention. The air may need to be removed so the lung can expand again. A tension pneumothorax can occur as the result of an unattended spontaneous pneumothorax as air in the pleural space cannot escape and begins to accumulate. The pressure increases and compresses the healthy lung and heart. The process can lead to a potentially life-threatening situation, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The symptoms can include shortness of breath; a sudden knifing chest pain; a drop in blood pressure; and a weak, rapid pulse.
Opportunistic Infections
The excessive amount of mucus found in the lungs of those of suffer from COPD makes a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. According to the Cleveland Clinic, pneumonia and influenza increase the risk of death for those who suffer from COPD. Complications due to respiratory infections include an increase in shortness of breath, wheezing, increased mucus production, and possibly a fever. When this occurs, an individual will often experience loss of appetite, fever, sweating, shivering, and joint and muscle pain and headache. Coughing, breathlessness, and chest pain will often follow.
